Recently, the New York Times had an article about grown-up books with funny titles.  Oh yeah?!!  Children's books has loads of 'em.  Here's some silly sounding books I've read.  What about you?

KIDS FIC

The Invisible Rules of the Zoe Lama	The Day My Butt Went Psycho	Notes from a Liar and Her Dog	I Smell Like Ham	The Stupendous Dodgeball Fiasco

Brainboy and the Deathmaster	Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf	The Great Whale of Kansas

KIDS I READ

Okay, many chapter books have funny titles, like the books in the My Weird School series, or Captain Underpants series.  It was really hard to choose.  I went for the non-obvious titles.

Calvin Coconut: Trouble Magnet	Your Mother Was a Neanderthal	Magic Pickle books	Charlie Muffin's Miracle Mouse	Scrubs Forever!

Hurray! This week we received a bunch of new KIDS books! 

Many were based on your suggestions; thank you so much, and keep up the good work!

The Tale of Despereaux adaptation

The Tale of Despereaux graphic novel

And of course, we can't forget the original book, the Newbery Award winner The Tale of Despereaux

The Sleepover Squad series

The Demigod Files the book of games about the Lightning Thief series

Mozart the Wonder Child by Diane Stanley

This week was the first meeting of our first Girls Book Club, a book discussion group for girls ages 9 to 12. 

We talked about our favorite books (see those below), ate lots of pizza and chose our books for March and April.  No need to sign up, just read, and come to the library that night.  We'll have a light dinner; something tasty...it could be pizza again!

On March 25 at 6:45 p.m. we will discuss Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller.  Come in, check out a copy (we own 10!) and read the exciting girl group mystery.  Four girls sleuth out the secret world underneath Manhattan.

In April (date to be decided) we will discuss Gods of Manhattan by Scott Mebus

Some of our favorite books are Savvy, Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and Blood on the River.

photo courtesy of Flickr user daveynin's

Friday nights in the children's room is the new place to be. Our brand new program We've Got Game started in January and it's been a smashing success. Kids get a chance to test out the library's cool new tech gadgets like the Nintendo Wii (yes, the library has a Wii), Creation Station, and the Chumby. Plus kids can even bring their own handhelds. You can even try out the new Microsoft Surface!!!

Stop by this Friday, February 13 @ 4:15pm and see what all the Buzz is about.

Also check out the WebPlay! section of the Youth page for some awesome websites and gaming posts.

Happy Gaming!

Youtube videos are everywhere, but how can you be sure you won't come across something with questionable content?  Try Totlol!  This new sub-site of YouTube is a parent moderated video community aimed at kids under the age of 13. There are videos about music, phonics, classic cartoons, even some cool series like Signing Time where you can learn sign language!  The selection is huge and if you like, you can participate too by creating a free account, creating your own playlist. The site has gotten some good reviews from ReadWriteWeb and Wired Magazine. Find our more information about how it works here and see if you'd like to join in!

Other Online Video Alternatives:

Sesame Street also shares videos on their site and you can never get enough Elmo! Check out all the fun videos about reading!

blip.tv is where our library shares videos like Opening Day and time lapse videos of it being built.  See what it looked like one year ago this month!

Vimeo has fun videos like Bob Shea's Dinosaur vs. Bedtime (a personal favorite book of mine!)

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime from bob shea on Vimeo.

Hey Kids!

Photo by Flickr User dichohecho

Come bead your own bracelets at the library this Saturday, February 7th at 1:15 pm in the Children's Library!

Sign up by calling, emailing or coming in to the Children's Library. Space is limited!

For kids ages 7-10.

crstaff@darienlibrary.org

(203) 669-5235

Saturday, January 10, 2009 was a banner day! 

The NEW Darien Library opened with visitors galore!  The children's library game to guess the number of people was a smashing draw.  We had over 100 guesses, and one was pretty close. 

Question: How many visitors came to the Darien Library on opening day?

drumroll....

Answer: 7,200

A sixth grader guessed 7,100 and won a gift card prize.

Truly amazing; we can't thank you enough for making the Library such an awesome place!

 photo courtesy of flickr user Dave-F

photo courtesty of Flickr user Chris Owens

If you are in grades 3 to 6 and have read at least one Nutmeg book this year, we'd like to interview you for our Nutmeg film.  We will be premiering the film during this year's Nutmeg @ Nite celebration!

First, get your parent's permission!  Next, stop by the Children's Room in the New Darien Library and ask to be interviewed (before January 22).  One of the Children's Librarians will film a brief interview with you about your thoughts on the Nutmeg books.  Here are the four questions you'll be asked:

1.  What was your favorite Nutmeg book this year and why?

2.  If you could pick one genre (for example: mystery, science-fiction, realistic fiction, etc.) to be included on future Nutmeg lists, which would it be and why?

3.  Do you have a favorite book that has never been a Nutmeg, but you think should be?  What is it?  And why do you think it would make a good Nutmeg book?

4.  If you could pick one character from this year's Nutmeg books to be for a day, who would you pick and why?

Hope to see you in the library......and Happy Reading!

Students in grades 3 - 6 who have read at least one of this year's Nutmeg books are invited to attend A Red Carpet Premiere Nutmeg @ Nite event on Tuesday, January 27 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Register in the Children's Library Saturday, January 10 - Thursday, January 22.

Activities?  You bet!  Create your own star for the Library's Nutmeg "walk of fame."

Games?  Totally!  The mystery game will have clues to characters, and plots of books for you to guess.

Movie Premiere?  Definitely!  We are going to show a movie that night that includes short films made by you, and other students. 

We want you to be a part of it!  Make or send us your Nutmeg Projects by Thursday, January 22.

How To Make A Nutmeg Project For The Movie

Stuff you can do at home:

- Write a book review about your favorite Nutmeg and email it to us at crstaff@darienlibrary.org

- Make a poster or piece of art inspired by a Nutmeg book or character.  Bring it to the library and we will scan it to be included in the movie.

- Talk about your favorite Nutmeg online by creating a Voicethread and send us the link. Click here for instructions on how to make a Voicethread.

- Dress up as your favorite Nutmeg character, take a digital picture, and send it to us at crstaff@darienlibrary.org

picture courtesty of flickr user Krosstok

Stuff you can do at the Library:

- Visit our Creation Station on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and we can help you make a video or podcast about your favorite Nutmeg.

- Stop by the Children's Desk anytime to participate in a mini Flip Video interview about Nutmeg books.  We will ask you a few questions about this year's awesome books and your thoughts about Nutmeg.

If you have any questions just email the Children's Librarians at crstaff@darienlibrary.org or comment below.

Did you grow up laughing along with books like Homer Price and Mr. Popper's Penguins?  Check out these modern read-alikes that will have you and your child busting a gut!

The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater

Stinky: A Toon Book by Eleanor Davis

Frindle by Andrew Clements

The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

Double Trouble in Walla Walla by Andrew Clements

The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer

For advanced readers with a refined sense of irony, try Richard Peck's The Teachers Funeral and Here Lies the Librarian.